Cover for electric outlet boxes



- J. T. PEARSON El AL COVER FOR ELECTRIC OUTLET BOXES Original Filed p 1922 ATTORNEYS- Patented Sept. 7, 1926.-

w you PATENT JOHN-'1; rne tsoifn i iii; anemone n1: oL 'Ei; or sraaeessqmwreax; AssIG'iioits' To cneusmnmns COMPANY, 015* sYnAorrsn, ian w- YORK, A cease-mama oi COVER non ELEoTRIc'oUTLEr BOXES.

Application filed September 27, 1922,'sria1 No. 590,764. R'enewed Desiree 1o, 1924.-

This invention has for its' object' a cover for electric outlet boxes, asconduit outlet boxes, havin'gan open side, which cover is provided with an outlet for the electric wires and a particularly simple, efiicient and durable construction and arrangement of a self-contained means for securing the cover to the box of the generaltype set forth in our Patent No. 1,525,684,. issued February The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, referenceis had to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views, 7 p 7 Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in'section, of a conduit outlet box provided with our cover. 1 p t Figure 2 is an inner face viewof the cover. Figure: 3 is a sectional view on line 33 gi t 7 a 1 designates theoutletbox, which maybe of=any suitable form, size and construction, it being here shown as provided withone or more nipples 2 for connection to the conduits'enclosing. the service wiresand with'an opening 3 in one side. I Theopening' is preferably elongated and bounded by opposing parallel, side walls a and rounding end walls 7 5. 6 designates the cover which comprises a body 7 and a'plate. 8 on the inner side of the body, the plate having its ends secured to the inner face of the body 7 and its in termedia'te portion fi) offset 01 spaced apart from the body' 7 here shown as a plate andthe plate 8 is of the same gen eral form in plan,-bi1t of less dimensions:

than the body 7, leaving a marginal bearing face 9 on the inner face of the body, which rests on the edgeof the walls 4:, 5 bounding the opening 3, andthe-plate 8 fits into such opening. Theplate 8 is secured to the body; 7 in a' y suitable manner, as by'spot welding, indicated at 8 The intermediate portion-9 7 plate 8 and the body 7 are formedwith alined holes, and-a nipple 10 extends'through such alined holes and is spreador rivetedat its inner end at 11 011 the intermediate portion.

'Qof the plate 8 and is providedwith' an'annular shoulder abutting against the outer face of the body 7. I

)Wing, to the rivet shoulder andthe shoulderlQ, the nipple isclamped to the intermediate portion 90f the plate and to the body 7. i

The wires from the outlet box are led through this nipple and also the nipple is screW-threaded-to support a fixture or any other appliance. I I

In order to stiffen the cover to support the nipple and the'weight' applied thereto, or to the wires or fixtures supported by the nipple, a brace is inserted between the intermediate'portion 9 of the plate 8 and the inner face of the body 7 and as here shown, the intermediate portion 9 is provided with a flange 13* along one edge thereof which flange meets the inner face of the body 7.

- One edge let of the intermediate portion is projected outwardly in position toen'gage and thrust against the inner face of the opposing wall 4 of the box, such edge 14 being on the opposite side of the intermediate portion fromthat on which the flange 13 is located, andmeans, as wedges 15, are located on the side of the intermediate portion on which the brace 13 is located, these wedgesbeing arranged at the ends of the flange 13, which flange terminates short ofthe ends of the intermediate portion 9. Also the Wedges are located on opposite sides of the nipple 10. The wedges 15 are here shown as located in slots 16 formed in the intermediate portion on opposite sides of the nipple, the wedges coacting attheir inner ends. with the end walls of the slots and projecting slightly beyond the flange 13. As here illustrated, the end walls of the slots 16 are formed inclined and also the engaging ends of each wedge are formed inclined so that when the wedge is moved to ward the body, the face of the wedge and the inclined face of the end wall of the slot 16 act inclined plane fashion on each other and cause the wedge 15 to be thrust outwardly against the inner face of the wall of a eh e i th body 7 for the S ra 18 is aslot 20 which permits the screw to move without tilting during tightening of the screw and movement of the wedge outwardly. The opposing faces of the box engaged by the edge 14 and by the wedges 15 are beveled so that the cover is secured to the box by what in effectis a clove-tailed joint. In operation, the cover is placed in the opening 3 after the wires have been drawn through the nipple 10 and the screws 18 tightened, thus causing the wedges to thrust against one side wall of the boz-z and the edge l t to thrust against the opposite side wall.

Owing to the ar angement of the wedges relatively to the nipple and to the brace 13, the cover is secured in position and is braced to carry any weight that may be applied to the nipple, 10.

What we claim is 1. A cover for electric outlet boxes hav ing an opening in one side, the cover comprising a body and a plate on the inner face of the body having its ends secured to the inner face of the body and its intermedia-te portion offset and spaced. apart from the body, the body and said intermediate portion having alincd holes thercthrough, and a nipple extending through said holes and secured to the intermediate portion of the plate, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A cover for electric outlet boxes having an opening in one side, the cover comprising a body and a plate on the inner face of the body having its ends secured to the inner face of the body and its intermediate portion offset and spaced apart from the body, the body and said intermediate portionliaving alined holes therethrough, and a nipple extending through said holes and secured to the intermediate portion of the plate, and having a shoulder abutting a inst the outer face of the body, substan- 1lly'as an d ,for the purpose specified.

A cover for electric outlet boxes havn opening inione" side, the cover coinag a'body anda plate on the. inner f ce I of the body having its ends secured to the innerface of the body and its intermediate portion oifsethn'd' spaced apart from the body. thebodyand jsaid intermediate portion having {dined holes therethrough, and ani'p'ple extending through said holes, the nipple having shoulders abutting against the: outer face/of the body and the inner face said intermediate portion, substan tially ls and jto'r the purposesetforth. i-r fcoverjfor electric outlet boxes havin'g anflop'eningin one side, the cover mmpr sing j a body and a plate on the inner face of t'h l' ody 1havi1 ig:its endssecnr'ed to the linicr "face of the body and intern'iediate portion offset and spacedt apartfroinythe body, the T body and said intermediate pork tion having alined holes therethrough, a nipple extending throughsaid holes and secured to the intermediate portion of the plate and a brace between said intermediate portion and the body, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. A cover for electric outlet boxes hav ing an opening in one side, the cover comprising a body and a plate on the inner face of the body iaving its ends secured to the inner face of the body and its intermediate portion oifset and spaced apart from the body, the body and said intermediate portion having alin-ed holes therethrough, and a nipple extending through said holes and secured to the intermediate portion of the plate, said intermediate portion having a flange along one edge thereof meeting the inner face of the body and constituting brace, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. A cover for electric outlet boxes having an opening in one side, the cover comprising a bod and a plate on the inner face of the body and having its ends secured to the innor face of the body and its intermediate portion offset and spaced apart from the body, the body and said intermediate portion having alined holes therethrough, and a nipple extending through said holes and secured to the intermediate portion of the plate said intermediate portion having a flange along one edge thereof meeting the inn-er face of the body and constituting a brace, and said intermediate portion also having its edge on the side thereof opposite the flange arranged to thrust against the inner face of one of the side walls of the box, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. A cover for electric outlet boxes having an opening in one side, the cover comprising a body and a plate on the inner face of the body and having its ends secured to the inner face of the body and its intermediate portion offset and spaced apart from the body, the body and said intermediate portion having alined holes therethrongh, a nipple extending through said holes and secured tothe intermediate portion of the plate, said intermediate portion having a flange along one edge thereof meeting the inner face of the body and constituting a brace, and said intermediate portion also having its edge on the side thereof opposite the flange arranged to thrust against the inner face of one of the side Walls of the box, and means coacting with the intermediate portion and the opposing inner face of thebox for thrusting such edge against theopposite inner face of the box and securing the cover to the box, substantially as'a1idfor thepurpose described.

I ,8. A,cover fOI' GlGC'lZIlC outlet boxes having an openingiri on'eside, the cover comprising a body and a plate on the inner face of the body having its ends secured to the inner face and its intermediate portion offset and spaced apart from the body, the body and said intermediate portion having alined holes there-through, a nipple extending through the holes and secured to the plate, one edge of the plate being arranged to engage the inner face of one of the side Walls of the box and wedging. means located at the opposite edge of such intermediate portion and coacting therewith and with the inner face of the opposing Wall of the box to secure the cover to thebox, and operating means for the wedging means ex-' tending through the cover and operable from the outer side thereof, said Wedgmg means being located on opposite sides of the nipple, substantially as and for the purpose specified. V

9. A cover for electric outlet boxes having an opening in one side, the cover comprising a body and a late on the inner face of the body having its ends secured to the inner face of the body and its intermediate portion offset and spaced apart from the body, the body and said intermediate portion having alined holes therethrough, a nipple extending through said holes and secured to the intermediate portion of the plate, saidintermediate portion having an edge arranged to thrust against the inner face of the opposing wall of the box and a flange on the opposite edge thereof, meeting the inner face of the body and constituting a brace, said flange terminating short of the ends of the intermediate portion and on opposite sides ofthey nipple, wedgmg members coacting with the intermediate portion at. opposite ends of the flange and operating to thrust against the inner face of the opposing wall of the box and means for operating the wedge members from the outer side of the body, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In combination with an electric outlet box, having an opening in one side, a cover, a plate having its ends secured to the inner face of the cover. and its intermediate portion offset and spaced from the cover,

said cover and said plate having aligned. holes therethrough, a nipple extending through said holes and secured to the intermediate portion of the plate, said intermediate portion having a flange along one edge thereof meeting the inner face of the cover and constituting a brace, and said intermediate'portion also having its edge on the side thereof opposite the brace flange arranged to thrust against the inner face of one of the side Walls of the box, and means coacting with the plate and the opposing inner face of the box for thrusting such edge against the opposite inner face of the box and secur-,

ing the cover to the box.

11. In combination with an electric outlet box, havingan opening in one side, a cover,

a plate having its ends secured to the inner face of thecover and its intermediate portlon offset and spaced from the cover,sa1d

cover and spaced plate having aligned holes let box, having an opening in one side, a

cover, a plate having its ends secured to the nner face of the cover and its intermediate portion offset and spaced from the cover,

said intermediate portion having one edge arranged to thrust against the inner face of the opposing wall of the box and a flange on the opposite edge thereof engaging the inner face of the cover and constituting a brace, said flange terminating short of the ends of the intermediate portion, bevelled surfaces formed on said plate at the ends of said flange, a nipple secured in said cover, wedging members, coacting with'the bevelled surfaces at the end ofthe flange and operating to thrust against the inner face of the opposing wall of the box, and means for operating the wedge members from theouter side ofthe cover.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto signed our names, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and State of New 18th day of September, 1922. JOHN T. PEARSON.

RAYMOND I-I. OLLEY.

York, this i 

